AN: I live! Sorry about this chappie, I feel like it's rushed. Tell me if you don't like it. I'll probably fix it later. It's just stupid filler stuff, nothing exciting… except the end! Hee hee…. Anyway, seriously guys, you all rock. Thanks for bringing me to just under 100 (I know you can bring me over this chapter! Hooray!) and for sticking with me through this. Sorry about the sporadic updates, but life is so hectic right now. Aah. I have midterms coming up, plus my stupid emotional problems that want to take advantage of me right now, along with work and a boyfriend and church and all that good stuff. So, sporadic updates will have to do.

I'm also wanting to start a story about four people – Morgan, Kristina, Liz's unborn baby (who will probably be named Jonathan from earlier chapters if you don't remember) and a new char that will be Gia's daughter and how their lives interact. It's gonna be kind of a romance but not really. We'll see, I have to work out the basics. But look for that.

Time to answer reviewer's responses…

courtjasnluvr87: Loren's 17. Kristina's 16.

Shamira: Hey I was reading your review on this other story (the one with Damian, you know?) and I feel really bad about your $300+ MS Word problemo. I got mine bootlegged (shhh!!! Don't tell!) and so I'm wondering if my MS Word can work and be your MS Word too, but yeah, let me know what kind of Windows you have and we'll work from there. Glad you love this stuff! I have a special surprise in store this chapter, I think you'll like it.

benbrattlover: Great comments. I'm trying to work on it so that there's everything in here, from familial relationships to romance to everything in between, but I'm trying to make this Kristina-centric, not Sonny-centric or Alexis-centric or even Loren-centric. Therefore anything that is important to her will be highlighted. Don't worry, you'll see Alexis soon enough. Thank you for that though.

To you and all my other reviewers – MizMorgan, Cassie, SaMaRa KrYsTaL, Amethyst Beloved, Bubbles, Debra, Irish Contessa, brazenblong2getha, C.C. Carz, Rachel, ReedGirl, browncutiemom, maliek, Sister of the Moon (I didn't know you reviewed this! I feel so special!), Becca, IloveJason (hehe me too!), Manda, Katriona, Kate, Angie, Ally(ie?), Dee, Meg, JasonandSarkLover125, AllHart, evil-cleo, Robin, Morgan450, cleopatra, T, nalini layla, "a person", Zsa Zsa Zau, eve brown (thanks for the clear up with the cousin thing!), Lily, and Allana (If you reviewed and I didn't mention you, I'm sorry! =( there are just so many people who reviewed!) – thank you so much for all your positive feedback and constructive criticism. Let me know if you have any ideas, I'll see if I can work it into the plot.

Enjoy this chapter. And don't make me repeat the disclaimer; I think you know the drill by now.

*

Golden Child

Chapter Fourteen

          "So… what are you all giddy about?" Bella questioned me. I grinned involuntarily again and said, "Am I really that obvious?"

          She nodded. "Besides, I'm your best friend and your sister. And what happened to Loren's face?"

          "Oh, I slapped him twice last night. One for scaring me on the way home, 'cause I thought he was going to kidnap me, and then again… for kissing me."

          "He kissed you?" she nearly screeched. I laughed and nodded. "Oh, yeah. But don't be so loud 'cause he's right outside and he said he didn't want me to tell you too much."

          "Okay, I'll be quieter." She lowered her voice some decibels and then continued, "So, how was it?" My sister grinned wickedly. "Judging by the look on your face, it must have been pretty good."

          "That it was," I agreed. Bella smiled. "Oh, Kristina, I'm so happy for you."

          "Thanks. We're not one of those official things though, we're just seeing how it goes," I warned her. "So keep it low profile, okay?"

          She sighed. "My sister, you have much to learn. Nothing that has to do with Sonny Corinthos is ever low profile. Trust me, any of my love interests have learned that the hard way. You can try, but it will get back to you one way or another."

          I just stared at her.

          "Oh, come on, Kristy, it's not like you've never dealt with it before living as a Quartermaine," Bella chided. "But of course, what you really have to worry about is Sonny Corinthos himself."

          "Yeah… I figured that. God, how many people do I have to deal with? Ned, Skye, Sonny… at least I know you support it."

          "As long as you're happy, Kris, that's all that matters," Bella said. However simply it was stated, I felt there were volumes of implications, like that she didn't really like it that it was Loren I was with. "Just be careful."

          "Why would you say that?" I wondered out loud.

          "You never know."

          Later, when were done girl talking (Bella got a kick out of Loren's reaction to my comment about guarding my body well), I decided I was going to go. "So soon? You haven't even said hi to Dad yet."

          "Is he here?" I questioned her, knowing that he wasn't, somehow.

          "Well, no," she admitted.

          "Then tell him that I said hi. Don't say anything about last night, I don't want him to be freaking out on me."

          "And why would he be freaking out on you?" a voice asked. I spun around to find Sonny walking through the door, holding a sleeping Justine in his arms. "I went to visit them, you know, and the little one here jumped into my arms and didn't want to leave—she fell asleep. So I'm just going to let her sleep on the couch for a while, okay?"

          "Sounds good to me," Bella agreed, and we moved aside so Sonny could put our little cousin down on the couch. He lay her down gently, then turned to me. "You didn't answer my question. Why would I be freaking out on you?"

          I sighed heavily. There was no getting around this, was there? "Someone grabbed me last night when I was walking home." It was the truth, but I purposely left out the part about someone following me.

          "I knew this was a bad idea. You should be staying here, Kristina. What happened to the guy who was supposed to be watching you? The Spencer kid?"

          "Loren? He was the one who grabbed me."

          Sonny visibly softened just a little. "Oh." He appeared to be in thought. "Well you were lucky this time. It could have easily have been someone else who wanted to take you."

          I nodded, trying to calm myself and not make an outburst. "I know. But he was with me the whole time after. He's even here now, standing outside, waiting for me."

          "Yeah, I saw him, Max looked like he was mentoring him or something. I guess he needs a lot to work on, huh, Kristina?"

          I nodded. "Yup. But he's doing a good job so far, I think. Anyway, I have to get going now. Sorry I can't stay."

          Sonny shook his head. "One of these days you're going to have to come and stay for a little longer. I have to make sure that Loren is doing his job. You may think he's doing a good job, but I have to make sure that you're protected." His voice lost its intimidating edge. "I can't lose you."

          "You won't, I promise," I whispered, then proceeded to the door. "Bye, Sonny. Bye, Bella."

          "Bye," they chorused and waved, Sonny a little melancholy. I sighed. I hoped I could prove myself to him.

          "So where are you going now?" Loren asked me, as we got back into the elevator and proceeded downward.

          "You mean, where we're going now?" I retorted, smirking. Loren just rolled his eyes, but I could see that they weren't annoyed by me. "Spoon Island."

          His demeanor suddenly stiffened. "Why?"

          "To visit my mother."

          Loren nodded. "Okay." I had a feeling he wanted to say more, but just left it at that. It became another awkward silence, and I sighed.

          "What?" he asked me, gently.

          "Nothing," I told him. I didn't want to worry him with my doubts about what we shared. I didn't even know what we shared. I was just confused, like there were still only mixed signals being sent to me. I just didn't know what to make of it.

          Later, after small talk and other things, we made it to Spoon Island. Loren decided to wander around and see if he could find anything that could start up the investigation into his mother's death again, while I meandered into Wyndemere. "Be careful," I implored him. "I don't want you getting lost."

          "Don't worry, I won't." Then, unexpectedly, he took my face into his hands and kissed me gently. "I'll be careful."

          "Okay." I smiled as he left, and sighed again. Boys. Can't live with them, can't live without them. I tried to clear my head of thoughts of him when I walked into the mansion, and I didn't really need to try; the atmosphere is so stately, so… regal, that it tends to take you out of your thoughts pretty easily. The living room was empty, so I called out, "Anyone here?"

          No answer. This was pretty weird. Why would anyone leave a door to their own house open and then have no one in it? It was really big, though, so I figured people were wandering about the house. I was about to go venture to look for Alexis when something unusual caught my eye. Behind the desk, the wall looked… different. It looked like it led somewhere. My curiosity getting the better of me, I headed closer. It looked dark, and dangerous, so I grabbed the first thing off the pristinely clean desk that I saw—a letter opener—to defend myself with. Now armed, I entered slowly into the passage, making sure to stay close to the wall.

          I soon wandered deeper and deeper into the passage, until I saw a flickering light. I deduced that it was a fire and I stayed put, trying to gather all that I could about my surroundings. Suddenly I heard voices.

          "Dark… so dark…"

          "Now, now, Vlad, that's nothing to worry about. Just stay quiet and you'll be out of here in a bit. Maybe if you sleep, your fears will be eased."

          "I don't want to sleep…"

          "Fine, suit yourself. We've just got to stay here for a while, though. Brandy?" Through the shadows, I saw a figure offer another figure a small flask.

          The other figure shook his or her head vigorously in a "no" fashion. I moved to try and get a better visual of who those two people were, when I slipped on a rock protruding on the ground and lost my balance. I didn't fall, but the sound from my mishap was enough to get the attention of the people inside. "Who's there?"

          Damn, I thought. Why did I have to make Loren go somewhere else? This was precisely the reason why Sonny insisted he should be with me at all times. Frustrated, and defeated, I finally decided to show myself and not get hurt. Besides, I reasoned, I have the letter opener with me if it has to come to that.

          I stepped out of the shadows and into the light. Unfortunately for me, two old looking men looked back at me. Well, one did for a moment, then zoned out into his own world again. He seemed to be restrained in some way, but I couldn't tell what. The other, however, was still looking intently at me. "'Lo, darlin. How can I help you this fine night?" He raised his flask to me and then downed the contents.

          "I… who are you? What are you doing in here?" were the first questions that came to me, before I could bite my tongue. I sighed again. Things were not going well.

          Before I could get an answer, however, another figure emerged opposite from where I was standing. My fear intensified, until I saw that it was Loren and breathed a sigh of relief. He saw me and motioned to me to keep my distance. The person who was talking to me saw my reaction and turned around to see what in the world I was looking at, and when Loren saw his face, his eyes widened. "Is it… is it really you?"

          "In the flesh, Cowboy Jr.," he replied.

          Loren didn't know what to make of this, I could tell. He just stared at the guy, numbly, until he finally asked, "What are you doing here, Grandpa?"

Hahaha, an evil cliffie!!! You guys know the drill. You all rock – you're gonna bring me up to 100!!! Thanks so much!